QBI Taps Pharma Veteran to Bridge Science and Medicine

SAN FRANCISCO, CA – May 12, 2026 – The Quantitative Biosciences Institute (QBI) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), has appointed a high-profile leader from the frontlines of both pharmaceutical development and global pandemic response to accelerate its mission of turning cutting-edge science into life-saving therapies. John A.T. Young, Ph.D., a veteran with over three decades of experience spanning academic labs, Roche’s R&D leadership, and the national COVID-19 response, has been named the institute’s first Chief Strategy Officer.

The appointment signals a significant strategic move for QBI, an institute renowned for its pioneering work in mapping the complex web of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) that drive human disease. Dr. Young is tasked with building the critical bridges between QBI’s foundational science and the biopharmaceutical industry, a role for which his career seems uniquely tailored.

“John is exactly the kind of bridge-builder QBI needs at this moment in our evolution,” stated Nevan J. Krogan, Ph.D., Director of QBI, in a press release. “He has operated at the highest levels of academic research and global pharma, he understands our science deeply, and he knows how to translate academic discovery into impact.”

From Pandemic Frontlines to a New Scientific Frontier

Dr. Young arrives at QBI with a formidable reputation forged in the high-stakes world of infectious disease and pandemic preparedness. During a decade at Roche Pharma Research and Early Development (pRED), he served as Vice President and Global Head of Infectious Diseases and later as Global Head of Pandemic Preparedness. In these roles, he spearheaded R&D programs against chronic hepatitis B, respiratory viruses, and drug-resistant bacteria.

His leadership extended beyond a single company. He served on the board of the AMR Action Fund, the world’s largest investment vehicle for novel antibiotics, and the Intrepid Alliance, an industry consortium focused on preparing for future pandemics.

Most notably, during the COVID-19 pandemic, Dr. Young was a key figure in the FNIH/NIH-led ACTIV (Accelerating COVID-19 Therapeutic Interventions and Vaccines) partnership. As co-chair of its Preclinical and TRACE working groups, he helped coordinate a massive public-private effort to fast-track treatments and vaccines. His contributions earned him the NIH Office of the Director’s Award, underscoring his ability to navigate complex scientific and logistical challenges under immense pressure.

This experience directly mirrors QBI’s own landmark contributions during the pandemic. The institute’s scientists rapidly mapped the SARS-CoV-2 human protein interaction network, a foundational achievement that identified 69 potential drug candidates and helped advance 27 of them into clinical trials. The synergy between Dr. Young's background in orchestrating large-scale therapeutic responses and QBI's proven discovery engine is a central pillar of the new strategy.

Targeting the "Undruggable" with Advanced Biology

At the heart of QBI's mission—and Dr. Young's new role—is the burgeoning field of protein-protein interaction drug discovery. For decades, the intricate dance of proteins within our cells has been considered largely "undruggable." Unlike traditional drug targets with well-defined pockets for small molecules to bind, PPI interfaces are often large, flat, and seemingly featureless, posing an immense challenge for drug developers.

However, a new era is dawning, driven by technological advances that QBI has placed at its core. By integrating proteomics, structural biology, CRISPR gene editing, and artificial intelligence, the institute is systematically mapping the cellular machinery to find new vulnerabilities in diseases like cancer, neurodegeneration, and infectious disease. This approach moves beyond a single-gene or single-protein view, instead targeting the complex networks that go awry in illness.

The commercial world is taking notice. The market for PPI-targeting drugs, valued at nearly $10 billion in 2025, is projected to surge to almost $27 billion by 2032. Dr. Young's appointment is a clear indicator that QBI intends not just to participate in this revolution, but to lead it.

"QBI is in a unique position to usher in a new era of PPI-based drug discovery," Dr. Young stated. "I am honored to join the team at this pivotal moment to help translate our world-class science into innovative new medicines."

An Architect for Innovation and Impact

As Chief Strategy Officer, Dr. Young's mandate is broad and ambitious. He will spearhead QBI's industry engagement, forging collaborations with biopharmaceutical companies, biotech ventures, and public health institutions. A key part of his role will be to support the strategic growth of QBI spinouts, an area where the institute has already proven its prowess.

Rezo Therapeutics, a company that launched in 2022 with a $78 million Series A financing, is a prime example. Born directly from QBI’s Cancer Cell Map Initiative, Rezo is using an integrated platform of proteomics, genetics, and bioinformatics to develop precision oncology drugs. Dr. Young's experience is expected to foster and accelerate the creation of more ventures like Rezo.

His work will be supported by QBI’s robust operational model as a UCSF Organized Research Unit, which has enabled it to secure major, cross-disciplinary grants. This includes a $67.5 million award from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) to establish a leading Antiviral Drug Discovery (AViDD) Center, placing QBI at the forefront of national pandemic preparedness efforts. By combining this powerful academic engine with Dr. Young’s deep industry and public health connections, QBI aims to create a self-reinforcing cycle of discovery, translation, and impact that redefines how academic institutions contribute to global health.